CONTENT
- General Information on Case Studies ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2
1.1 What Are Case Studies? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2
1.2 What Do You Learn from Case Studies? ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
1.3 Editing Hints and Tips………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2 - Formal Guidelines and Submission Requirements ………………………………………………………………. 3
2.1 Structure of the Case Study………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.2 Components of the Case Study …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 3
2.3 Formalities ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
2.4 Evaluation ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
2.5 IT & Technik………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
page 2 of 5 - GENERAL INFORMATION ON CASE STUDIES
The analysis of and the work with case studies play an important role in university-level coursework because it
promotes important skills in the field of action- and solution-oriented thinking and decision-making. Case
studies also train the practical transfer of theoretical knowledge and models learned while studying.
Accordingly, a concrete practical case serves as the basis for systematically applying the theories taught in the
module, i.e. the students themselves analyze and solve the practical case. Case studies are often characterized
by a high degree of complexity; it is hardly possible to work through all the details within a case study and use
them for the solution. Thus, a case study always simulates practical experience or reality, in which all the
required information can rarely be made available. If additional literature is used, it must be cited according to
our guidelines.
1.1 What Are Case Studies?
Case studies are a teaching method in which the students work on a “case” that demonstrates a situation
entailing a realistic, practical problem needing to be solved.
Case studies occur in a wide variety of contexts and are used for various purposes in professional practice,
studies, teaching, and research. Classical case studies in the field of economics are often based on real life cases
from the past. However, fictitious cases concerning companies and organizations are equally suitable for this
purpose.
Case studies do not contain a structured preparation of knowledge like textbooks do. The tasks within case
studies are more like real life: complex, incomplete, unstructured, imprecise, and ambiguous.
1.2 What Do You Learn from Case Studies?
Case studies are used to gain useful insights through analysis and examination. Ideally, these findings can be
transferred to other cases and situations. Thus, case studies support the development of analytical skills,
sharpen the ability to separate the important from the irrelevant information, and open up new alternatives for
action.
Applied learning with case studies is a central building block in this course. Some of you may have worked with
case studies before. However, you have all gained professional experience in different areas, and you are
familiar with the contents of this course from the teaching materials provided. With the case studies available,
you can now try and combine your specific experiences, concepts that you have learned from the course and
concrete decision situations in a written case study.
1.3 Editing Hints and Tips
Generally, case study tasks are always underspecified. It is part of the task to find out what exactly the specific
case study is about. Consequently, there is neither one right question nor one right answer. Instead, it is more a
matter of the process of finding a solution by deliberately weighing different issues and different competing
approaches.
Thus, in a case study, multiple solution options are usually possible. It is important how the chosen solution
proposal is justified and presented transparently. Try to put yourself in the concrete decision-making situation
and in the perspective of the actors involved.
The point of case study analysis is not to reproduce learned knowledge, i.e. to explain a method or a concept in
detail, but rather to apply knowledge and experience to a decision-making situation, i.e. to transfer it.
page 3 of 5 - FORMAL GUIDELINES AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
2.1 Structure of the Case Study
Case studies should follow the classical pattern:
ڪ Introduction (case context and explanation)
ڪ Main part (presentation, editing and solution of the case)
ڪ Conclusion (discussion and further transfers)
These chapter names are not predefined, other chapter titles can be used. However, it is important to maintain a
logical structure that is clearly comprehensible to the reader. Thus, a table of contents, i.e. an outline, must also
be preliminarily devised for a case study.
2.2 Components of the Case Study
The Case Study consists of the following parts, listed in the content section:
ڪ Title page
ڪ Table of contents (outline of the paper)
ڪ List of figures and/or tables
ڪ List of abbreviations
ڪ Text part with introduction, main part, conclusion part
Bibliography ڪ
ڪ Appendices and materials
ڪ List of appendices
page 4 of 5
2.3 Formalities
